Balogun

THE FEEL

"No matter how fast you run from love, it will always catch up to you."
- adetayo_first

Abike was up as early as six a.m the next morning, eager to resume her post. She walked briskly toward the Prince's room with her broom and mop, hoping she caught him since it was still a bit early.  When she knocked on his door and got no reply, she walked in.

The Prince was dressed in army regalia, complete with combat boots, making her stomach tumble with how attractive he looked.
"Good morning, my Prince."

He glanced up, eyeing her like he had never seen her before. Abike wanted to melt into the ground in embarrassment.

"Is there a problem?" He looked at the broom in her hand before hefting the bag onto his shoulder and turning completely to face her.

"I came to clean," she answered in a shaky voice, praying the ground would open and swallow her whole.

"As you can see, there is nothing here to clean."

Truly, she could see there was nothing to clean. Everything was spotless. But she had hoped he would see her and they would continue from where they left off yesterday. He didn't look like he shared that thought.

The door swung open and Abike turned to see another giant standing behind her, wearing a similar outfit to the Prince.
This was the man she saw with the Prince the other day in the hallway. He was extremely gorgeous.

"Ready?" He asked the Prince, completely oblivious to her presence. "Let's go." The Prince slipped past her and walked out of the room, without sparing her another glance.

Abike dropped the broom and sank onto the couch with a sigh. She had let this get to her head so quickly. Where was the hate she felt for him? Where was the irritation? The contempt?

Just because he had been calm and talked about books with her for a short while, she had let herself dream. Did he have a behavioral disorder? Was he bipolar?

Her gaze slid to the bookshelf and she rose to pick up the book she was reading some days before. Purple Hibiscus.

She found it and went back to the couch, grateful she had something to read to pass time. If he wanted to act like a mule, she didn't care.

                                      ***

"Thank heavens we don't have extra training today." Jamal sank onto the wooden bench and fished through their bag for a water bottle.

Murewa sat beside him, watching quietly as the junior officers dispersed back to camp, saluting and waving as they went. He waited until it was only him and Jamal left in the clearing.

"Let's go." Murewa stood, zipping the bag and lifting it onto his shoulder. He turned to see Jamal setting down the empty water bottle, his wet shirt plastered to his body.
"Jamal..."

Jamal heaved himself up from the bench and flexed his tired shoulders before falling in step beside Murewa.

"I heard the decision on what to do with Amu now rests on your Father," he said as they walked down the bush path that led to the Palace's back gates.

"Yes." Murewa shrugged. "I have washed my hands off it." He paused for a second. "But one of these days, I'm going to kill Jolayemi."

Jamal began to laugh but the laughter died in his throat when he saw the seriousness in his friend's eyes. "Why would you do that?"

"Why not?" Murewa snapped as they crossed the clearing and approached the high gates. "He has had it coming."

The guards at the gate bowed swiftly as they crossed into the premises. The Palace was crawling with servants as it was still early and they were all very busy.